World Cup round of 16 complete: Messi marked: bump on his head after Cape Verde fight

Messi suffered a massive bump on his forehead above his right eye. “Oh, that bump,” wrote the Argentine sports paper Olé. England’s tabloid The Sun said: “Lionel Messi ended the thriller against Cape Verde with a terrible bump on his forehead that continued to swell.”

The now 39-year-old fell after an attack in injury time of the 90 minutes. He hit his head on his opponent’s knee. Previously, in the thrilling round of 16, Messi had given the defending champions the lead with a goal in his typical style after a splendid reception of the ball. It was his seventh goal in his fourth game at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

“We knew it would be a tough game,” Messi said after the game. But the Argentine national team, which celebrated the decisive 3-2 victory with an own goal in the 111th minute, fought until the end, emphasized the Albiceleste captain. If necessary, even with a dent.